Review of Acalypha indica, Linn in Traditional Siddha

Medicine
Thomas M.Walter*

ACALYPHA INDICA, Linn.

Or A. Spicata or A. Ciliata or A. Canescana, (N. O.Euphorbiaceae)

Sans. Arittamanjarie.
Eng. Indian acalypha.
Hind. Kuppu; Khokali.
Ben. Muktajhuri; Sveta-basanta.
Guj.-- Vanchi Kanto.
Mab.Khokli ; Khajoti.

*
Asst. Lecturer, Dept. of Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Govt. Siddha Medical College Hospital,
Palayamkottai, T.N., India. dr.thomaswalter@gmail.com
Tel. Kuppichettu; Harita-manjiri; Kuppinta or Muripindi.
Tam. Kuppivaeni; Kuppaimeni.
Can.Kuppigida.
Mal. Kuppamani.
Kon.Kunkmiphal.
Uriya.Indramaris.
Sinb .Kupa-menya.

Habitat - Common annual shrub in Indian gardens, backyards of houses and waste place
throughout the plains of India.

Parts Used - Leaves, root, stalks (young shoots) and flowers.

Constituents Alkaaloids acalypus and acalyphine.

Action Cathartic, Anthelmintic, expectorant, emetic, anodyne and hypnotic1

Other Uses:

1. Post-coital antifertility activity of Acalypha indica L.2

Four successive solvent extracts of the whole plant Acalypha indica L.

(Euphorbiaceae) were tested for post-coital antifertility activity in female albino rats.
Of these, the petroleum ether and ethanol extracts were found to be most effective in
causing significant anti-implantation activity. The antifertility activity was reversible
on withdrawal of the treatment of the extracts. Both the extracts at 600 mg/kg body
weight showed estrogenic activity. Histological studies of the uterus were carried out
to confirm this estrogenic activity.

2. Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain 3

Acalypha is an irritant to the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane. It is used as

a substitute for ipecacuanha. The drug acts reflexly through the stomach in small
doses; it also acts as an expectorant arid, in larger doses, as an emetic. This drug has
also been used as a laxative and anthelmintic.
3. Antimicrobial activity of extracts of Acalypha indica Linn.4

Dilution method was employed to determine the effect of petroleum ether

extract (40-60 Degree) chloroform and methanolic extract of dried leaves of
Acalypha indica Linn (Euphorbiaceae) against fungi (Candida albicans) and bacteria
(Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella
typhosa, Bacillus substilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae). Except the petroleum ether
extract, all the extract exhibited a prominent antimicrobial activity. The methanolic
extract was further fractionated into acetone soluble and insoluble parts. Both the
parts exhibited prominent antimicrobial activity. The acetone insoluble part exhibited
MIC of 0.0040 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and both acetone soluble and
insolube parts exhibited MIC of 0.05 mg/ml against Salmonella typhosa.

4. Wound healing effect of Acalypha indica in rats.5

The ethanolic extracts of Heliotropium indicum, Plumbago zeylanicum and

Acalypha indica were evaluated for their wound healing activity in rats. Wound
healing activity was studied using excision and incision wound models in rats
following topical application. Animals were divided into four groups with six in each
group. Ten percent w/v extract of each plant was prepared in saline for topical
application. H. indicum possesses better wound healing activity than P. zeylanicum
and A. indica. Tensile strength results indicate better activity of H. indicum on
remodeling phase of wound healing.

5. Acalypha indica in Homeopathy.6

A drug having a marked action on the alimentary canal and respiratory organs. It
is indicated in incipient phthisis, with hard, racking cough, bloody expectoration,
arterial hemorrhage, but no febrile disturbance. Very weak in the morning, gains
strength during day. Progressive emaciation. All pathological hemorrhages having
notably a morning worse.
6. Acalypha indica in Ayurveda.7

Preparations - Infusion of root, powder, decoction, cataplasm, succus (juice

expressed), tincture and liquid extract.

Uses
Leaves possess laxative properties; are used as a substitute for senega; are
used in the form of powder or decoction;

Mixed with garlic they are used as Anthelmintic in worms. Mixed with garlic
they are applied to scabies; and their juice mixed with oil forms an application
in rheumatic arthritis.

Expressed juice of the leaves is a safe, certain and speedy emetic for children
in one teaspoonful (I drachm) doses, in cases of croup; in smaller doses it is
expectorant, and is useful in chronic bronchitis, asthma and consumption. The
decoction is employed in ear-ache as instillation and also as fomentation
round the aching ear; and a cataplasm of the bruised leaves is applied to
syphilitic ulcers, to maggot-eaten sores and also to relieve the pain of snake-
bites. juice from fresh leaves may be employed in scabies and other skin
diseases, and with lime and onion it is a good stimulating application in
rheumatism.

Powder of dry leaves is used in bed sores.

In congestive headache a piece of cotton saturated with the expressed juice of

the plant or leaves and inserted into each nostril is said to relieve it by
causing hemorrhage from the nose.

In cases of obstinate constipation of children the leaves ground into a paste

and made into a ball and introduced into the rectum, relax the sphincter ani
 and produces free motions. An infusion of the root or the root bruised in
water, acts as a cathartic.

Uses in Siddha Medicine:

Properties:

Taste (Suvai) Bitter, Kaarpu.

Effect during digestion (Veeriyam) Kaarpu.

Post digestive taste (Pirivu) Kaarpu

Actions:

Anodyne
Anthelmintic
Cathartic
Diuretic
Emetic
Expectorant
Emmenagogue

Therapeutic properties:

According to the Siddha text, Pathartha Guna Chinthamani (Page no:179),

Acalypha cures diseases of the teeth and gums, burns, toxins of Plant and mixed origin,
stomach pain, diseases due to Pitha, bleeding piles, irritations, stabbing pain, wheezing,
sinusitis and neutralizes predominance of the Kabha factor.

According to Siddha Materia Medica8 the leaf powder when given in the dose of
950 mg to 1300 mgs, cures repiratory diseases. The leaf juice when mixed with neem oil
and applied to the inner part of childrens tongue with the help of quill, induces vomiting
and acts as expectorant.

When the Acalypha leaves in moderate, prescribed quantity is taken along with
diet, it removes Thimir Vaatham from the body. When the leaves are fried up with castor
oil and given in the prescribed quantity and method for 45 days (mandalam), it removes
disastrous Kapha diseases, combined with Vayu (gas) and produces good health.

For removing the toxin arising out of Rat bite, the leaves of Acalypha in the size
of areca nut is mixed with water and given for 3 days (with salt restricted diet). But it
produces vomiting and diarrhoea also.

References:

1
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10617059
2
PMID: 10617059 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
3
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 1911.
4
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2000 Sep-Oct.; 62(5): 347-50
5
PMID: 11801388 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Acal
7
Indian Materia Medica by Dr. K.M. Nadkarni, Volume I, pages: 17-19,
Publisher: Bombay Popular Prakashan, reprinted: 2000.
8
Materia Medica (Vegetable section), Volume I, by Dr. Murugesa Muthaliar,
pages: 359, publisher, Tamilnadu Siddha Medical Council, Chennai. Fourth
edition 1988.